Faced with significant challenges in a world marked by rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes, Hai Phong continues to shine as a bright spot in Vietnam’s economic and foreign affairs landscape. The city has created numerous opportunities for cooperation and sustainable development, elevating its stature and credibility in international relations.
The city has clearly identified that in order to rise and assert its position, it must focus on socio-economic development. To achieve this, it is essential to combine internal strengths with external resources, especially in terms of capital, science, technology, and management capacity. Hai Phong’s external affairs sector has been carrying out its historic mission of “security – stature – development” based on three pillars: “industry and high technology, seaport and logistics, tourism and commerce,” continuously adding value and enriching the city’s development capacity, creating breakthroughs for its economy.
Inheriting its 70-year legacy of diplomacy, and flexibly adapting to each period, Hai Phong’s foreign affairs have in recent years embraced the spirit of the new era, reflecting the dynamic and bold mindset of Hai Phong’s people. It has seen strong development and achieved significant accomplishments.
With its strategic location as the gateway of the country to the world, Hai Phong’s economy is highly open and based on its role as a major industrial production center in Vietnam. Thanks to its visionary international cooperation strategy, the city has established and maintained trade relations with 130 out of 204 countries and territories worldwide. This has helped to realize free trade agreements and attract investment capital. Hai Phong’s economy has grown rapidly and sustainably, maintaining double-digit growth for ten consecutive years, consistently ranking among the top five fastest-growing localities in Vietnam. Between 2020 and 2025, total foreign direct investment (FDI) is estimated to reach USD 15 billion, with cargo throughput through the port reaching 212 million tons, and export turnover estimated at USD 37 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 15.12%.
Innovative and breakthrough ideas in foreign affairs have been boldly implemented. Thirty-one new cooperation agreements have been signed with major partners from developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands. These aim to jointly build a green economy, digital economy, and circular economy. Nearly 200 cultural diplomacy events have served as bridges, increasing mutual understanding and contributing new values to long-term partnerships. Although Hai Phong is no longer a priority area for foreign NGOs, the city continues to seek opportunities and expand its engagement with foreign-invested enterprises in social responsibility activities. As a result, between 2021 and 2024, Hai Phong attracted 178 programs/projects/non-projects with a total aid value of nearly USD 20 million from 42 sponsor organizations/enterprises.
Creative diplomacy has helped Hai Phong promote its image to the world, attract international tourists, and gain the interest of investors. Around 200 economic diplomacy activities of various types and scales have helped connect businesses and welcome foreign delegations to survey the local investment environment and explore partnerships in Hai Phong. By flexibly combining formal and informal diplomatic channels, Hai Phong successfully lobbied for the recognition of the Cat Ba Archipelago, together with Ha Long Bay, as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Stunning images of Cat Ba appeared on CNN, creating a major buzz in the international travel community. To seize this opportunity and generate revenue from tourism (which contributes 4.5% of the service sector’s added value), the city is focusing on investing in infrastructure and international-standard services, while accelerating the launch of new international flight routes from Cat Bi Airport to Lijiang (Yunnan, China) and Busan (South Korea), meeting diverse travel demands and expanding both domestic and international tourist markets. Hai Phong is affirming its role and prestige in bilateral and multilateral relations, becoming a top choice and destination for foreign leaders, investors, major corporations, and national and international events.
Recognizing the importance of uniting the overseas Hai Phong community, the city continues to implement effective measures to expand its network of 4,800 Hai Phong natives living, studying, and working in 58 countries and territories. This fosters greater connection and homeland engagement. From 2021 to 2024, remittances are estimated at USD 988.21 million, contributing positively to business, supporting families, and participating in social welfare activities in the city. These remittances have become an important resource for Hai Phong’s development and integration.
Hai Phong has also effectively managed foreign affairs, promptly resolved consular matters involving foreign citizens in the city, and actively addressed citizen protection cases involving Hai Phong natives abroad, ensuring no hotspots threaten national security or social order in the city.
The city has strongly directed the improvement of its administrative apparatus, with human resources considered the key factor in determining the success of foreign policy decisions. Accordingly, Hai Phong has launched several initiatives to train and improve the qualifications of public officials. In recent years, through international cooperation, the city has organized nearly 30 short-term overseas training courses and offered scholarships from the governments of countries such as the U.S., Russia, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia, as well as from embassies, NGOs, and partner localities (e.g., Yunnan, Nanning – China; Incheon – South Korea).
By promoting the diplomatic identity of Vietnam’s "bamboo diplomacy," Hai Phong’s foreign affairs sector is showing new strength and momentum. It continues to be a vital driver for rapid and sustainable development, contributing to the implementation of Resolution 45-NQ/TW, which aims to elevate Hai Phong to the group of top Asian and global cities. Fully seizing opportunities for international integration will further embed Hai Phong into the global community and strengthen its soft power in an ever-changing world.